These are not empty threats: there was an arson attack on the home of a key Palestinian witness in last year's Duma arson attack case, which killed a Palestinian mother and father and their 18-month old son.

The safety of witnesses, whistleblowers, and nonviolent activists must be protected, as well as the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest. Because Israel is the top recipient of US military assistance–– $3.1 billion dollars annually approved by the State Department–– it is incumbent upon the State Department to closely monitor and respond to the human rights situation in Israel/Palestine.

To this aim we call on the US State Department to make clear to its counterparts in Israel, in a written public statement, that the Obama Administration expects the Israeli government to preserve the safety and uphold the rights of Palestinian and Israeli human rights defenders. Incitement to violence against human rights defenders must not be countenanced, whether coming from Israeli government officials or lawless right-wing settlers.